Safety and cleaning device for single cup coffee maker

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a product and method for conveniently cleaning a single cup brewing machine&#39;s pod/cup canister. The present invention is also an improved pod/cup that reduces the chance for over pressurization and unwanted explosions during the brewing process. The pod/cup according to the invention is designed in the same general shape and configuration as a pod/cup intended to be used in the machine with a plurality of apertures in the side of the pod. This invention also includes an improved machine canister with a plurality of piercing pins. Still further, the invention includes a new cup puncture device with puncture pins or blades that can be used on the pod prior to insertion into the canister.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/944,172 filed on Feb. 25, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/975,058 filed on Apr. 4, 2014, and U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 62/037,884 filed on Aug. 15, 2014, each which is expresslyincorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to single serve brewing machines. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to convenient devices usedto clean single serve brewing machines. The present invention alsoincludes devices to help eliminate the explosion of pods in brewingmachines when brewing single serve beverages.

BACKGROUND

The single cup coffee brewer machine (also called single-serve coffeemakers) where individual pods/cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate or thelike, are inserted into the machine and mixed with hot water to create asingle cup of beverage are ubiquitous. The convenience and ease of thesemachines to make individual cups of coffee instantaneously makes themhighly desirable. Another advantage to these machines is the minimalamount of clean up required after the beverage is made. Normal usesimply requires removal and disposal of the used pod/cup from themachine. If another cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot water, etc.is desired, a new pod/cup is inserted into the machine and the brewingbutton is activated. Common manufacturers of these singe cup brewingmachines include Keurig, Bunn, Starbucks. The single cup coffee brewermachine offers a simple, quick, easy to use way to make a quick cup ofcoffee/tea/hot chocolate/etc. with minimal, if any, clean up required.

Many well known brands now distribute pods of hot chocolate, iced tea,fruit drinks, and other beverages, in addition to coffee of differentstrengths and flavors, for these machines. It is very common that asubsequent user of the machine will use a pod/cup from a differentmanufacturer or for a different flavored beverage. Oftentimes, theflavor/taste of the later made beverage may be compromised from smallamounts/traces of residue left in the unit from the previously usedpod/cup. The residue results from how the machine works—a sealed plasticpod/cup with a heat-sealed or glued on foil lid that contains groundcoffee beans and a filter beneath the coffee is placed in a canister(pod or cup holder) in the machine. The plastic pod/cup is manufacturedsuch that each pod/cup is sealed to preserve the contents during storageand for a better tasting (fresher tasting) beverage. The plastic pod/cupis placed into a compartment in the machine which is closed by the user.When closing, the pod/cup is pierced through the bottom of the plasticand through the top foil with needles in the machine breaking theairtight seal. The needles that pierce the pod/cup are cannulated with achannel through the length. With the needles inside the pod/cup, theholes through the needles create a path for hot water to flow throughthe pod, that is through the top needle, through the ground coffee (orother beverage making substance such as, e.g., hot chocolate powder),through the filter (used to keep grinds and other flavoringsubstances/solids in the pod from exiting the pod and going into the cupof beverage) and out of the pod, through the bottom needle into thesurrounding canister (also called portion pack or cup holder), throughan opening in the surrounding canister, and into a cup beneath thecanister. It is very common for the inside of the canister to accumulatea solid and/or liquid residue of the beverage that was prepared,especially on the sides of the canister and inside the canister near itsbottom. This residue is left behind inside the canister and along thesurfaces of the openings in the canister, including the piercingneedles/pins. The residue may cause a color or taste variation in thenext beverage prepared in the machine which could negatively impact thebeverage. Consumers may mistakenly believe the machine does not makegood tasting beverages and/or that the beverage in the pod is not goodand/or not fresh.

The manufacturers of these machines recognize there is a need to cleanthe machine but also recognize the inconvenience associated with thecurrent method of cleaning. Manufacturers do suggest occasional cleaningof the canister and the machine (e.g., every 6 months) using descalingsolutions. In reality, however, very few people follow these cleaninginstructions and fail to clean the internal components resulting insignificant residue accumulation in the machines. Particularly incommunal settings such as a workplace or professional office, theconvenience of the machine and the desire to minimize time spent at thebeverage machine often causes neglect in its maintenance and cleaningand an absence of cleaning resources. Rare is the case that thesemachines are cleaned often, never mind daily or even more importantlyafter each use. In reality, the cleaning task requires effort and timedetracting from the desirable convenience for using the machine.

With multiple users throughout the course of a single day, the flavor ofthe beverages can become compromised/impacted/altered. The integrity ofthe beverage product suffers and one of the main purposes of the singlecup brewing machine, which is to allow users to enjoy a fresh,just-brewed beverage, fast and easily, is defeated. The resultingbeverage winds up not having the fresh flavor that it was intended tohave. Applicants have discovered a device and a method of cleaning thesingle cup brewing machine to address this problem.

Another significant issue with use of these machines is the risk formalfunction—the explosion of the beverage pod during the brewing processcausing hot beverage to spill out of, sometimes spray out of, the top ofthe canister. There are known instances of beverage pod explosions nearthe end of the brewing cycle, after the water has filled the pod and afinal blast of air is applied through the pod. There have been recallsof certain single cup brewing machines in the past few years due to therisk of burns (sometimes second and third degree burns) from themisdirected hot water or steam. Some single cup brewing machines havebeen recalled due to a problem with a faulty water reservoir causingsteam to build up and thus forcing the canister open, causing anexplosion of hot water, steam, and coffee grounds. There are also timeswhere an explosion occurred in the beverage pod.

Applicants have discovered a way to improve the reliability of thesemachines and to reduce the number of accidents and injuries caused byspraying beverage and/or exploding cups. Applicants have discovered thatin many instances, the spillage resulting from the explosion of the cupis due to a failure (breakage) of the foil on the tops of the cup. Thefoil and/or the seal between the plastic and the foil fails for one ormore of the following reasons: 1) there is an opening or weakening inthe top of the foil that the user does not see when inserting the cupinto the canister which allows fluid to escape under pressure out of thetop of the cup, and 2) the heat seal between the foil and the plasticcup is faulty or breaks under the pressure applied during the brewingcycle of the machine. Irrespective of the reason for the failure,Applicants have discovered that the danger and mess from a “blow out” inthe brewing machine can, for the most part, be avoided, certainlyminimized, by modifying the machine and/or the cup according to theinvention.

There is a need for a convenient, easy, and fast way to clean the insideof the canister in a single serve brewing machine. There is a need for acleaning device that can be easily used between brews. There is a needfor a cleaning device that does not require dismantling of the brewingmachine. There is a need for a safer pod/cup design that helps eliminateover-pressurization and explosions. There is a need for a safer way tomake single serve beverages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicants have invented devices that overcome these and othershortcomings. While the invention will be described in connection withcertain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to those embodiments. To the contrary, the invention includesall alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The current invention seeks to solve the aforementioned problems. Thecurrent invention is a product and method for cleaning the single cupbrewing machine's pod/cup canister fast and easily so that the user canobtain a “cleaner” cup of beverage as intended by the machinemanufacturer and product suppliers and as expected by the user. Thecurrent invention is fast and easy to use so as to not detract from theconvenience of the machine. The minimal time it takes to use the deviceof the present invention is well worth the improved quality of thebeverage resulting from the machine after its use. The present inventionis also a much faster method and process to clean the primary mixingcomponent in the machine (the canister) than the processes suggested bythe manufacturer(s). The current invention is also a product and methodfor reducing the risk of an exploding pod/cup during the brewing and/orcleaning process. The current invention maintains the convenience of useof single cup brewing machines while also adding the benefit of improvedsafety.

The present invention includes an improved pod/cup used for cleaning themachine. The invention also includes an improved pod/cup that that mayalso be used for cleaning which also functions to prevent unwantedexplosions. The invention furthermore includes an improved beveragepod/cup that reduces the chance for unwanted explosions. This inventionalso includes an improved machine canister that reduces the chance forunwanted explosions. Still further, the invention includes a new cuppuncture device that can be used prior to insertion of the beverage cupinto the canister that reduces the chance for unwanted explosions.

The cleaning pod/cup according to the invention is designed in the samegeneral shape and configuration as a pod/cup intended to be used in themachine as shown in the accompanying Figures. The cleaning pod/cupaccording to the invention may be the same size as a pod/cup used tomake beverages or it may be configured slightly smaller in size (e.g.,circumference). The smaller sized cleaning pod/cup according to theinvention increases distance between the exterior wall of the cleaningpod and the interior wall of the canister into which it is placed which,for some machines, creates a flow path for the cleaning solution insidethe canister around its side wall. The gap/space between the exteriorside wall of the invention's pod/cup and the canister wall allows thesides of the canister to be soaked/sprayed with a cleansing solutioncoming out of the cleaning pod/cup when used. Some machines, such as theKeurig, have “ridges” or “splines” inside the canister that create aspacing between the exterior side wall of the inserted pods/cup and theinside surfaces of the canister between “ridges/splines” for a flow pathwithout the need for a smaller cleaning pod/cup.

The cleaning pod/cup according to the invention also differs, in part,from existing beverage pods/cups, because it contains apertures (coveredwith removable tape or wrapping in the preferred embodiment) around thecleaning pod/cup located on the upper half of the side wall along with acleaning solution/tablet/gel/powder. Another difference for someembodiments of the invention is that it contains a flowdiverter/director inside. In yet other embodiments of the invention, thefoil top is replaced with a removable and replaceable lid creating areusable/refillable device. The reusable/refillable pod/cup according tothe invention may contain an attached flip-top cover or may include aseparable top/cover (e.g, screwed fitting or snap on) that can be placedback on the pod after it has been refilled with the cleaningsolution/tablet/gel/powder. Thus the top/cover may be made out of a thinfoil material that can be easily pierced with the upper puncture needlein the machine, or it may be made out of a more durable material (e.g.,hard plastic) that already includes a perforation/aperture so that thetop does not need to be pierced by the upper puncture needle but insteadallows the needle to pass through the top/cover or into a recess in thetop/cover.

The apertures on the side of the cleaning pod/cup can be covered with anadhesive strip to prevent the cleaning solution/tablet/gel/powder fromleaking out when stored/prior to use. The adhesive strip, if used, isremoved when the pod is ready for use—prior to installation in thecanister. The apertures can be a variety of sizes or shapes and in arange of patterns to optimize spray or flow to the inside wall of thecanister.

Inside the cleaning pod/cup, there may be a sponge or other porousmaterial placed in the bottom to act as a flow restrictor/diverter. Theflow restrictor/diverter prevents all of the cleansing fluid (inside thecleaning pod/cup from the start or created when the machine is activatedand the hot water contacts the cleaning gel, tablet, and/or powder) fromrushing completely out of the punctured bottom (and not the sides ortop) of the cleaning pod/cup. If the pod contains a non-liquid typecleaning substance, such as, for example, a gel, tablet, or powder, thisflow restrictor may not be necessary although it may still beadvantageous to help direct flow of the cleaning solution out the sideof the cleaning pod/cup to the sides of the canister and on the upperpuncture needle.

The cleaning pod/cup is preferably made out of a thin plastic materialwith a top foil that can be pierced with the needles in the machinesimilar to the materials of construction for existing beveragepods/cups. To use the device of the invention, the removable foil/tapeor wrapping is removed from the cleaning pod/cup and it is placed intothe canister in the machine in the same manner as a beverage pod. Themachine is closed causing the needles in the machine to pierce a hole inthe top and the bottom of the cleaning pod/cup. It is preferred that thecleaning pod/cup according to the invention is about the same height asthe existing beverage pods so that the resulting cleaning solution cancontact and clean the piercing needles inside the machine. When themachine is closed and turned on with the cleaning pod/cup inside, thehot water mixes with the cleaning substance and causes a cleaning liquidto flow out the apertures in the side of the cleaning pod/cup, out thebottom of the cleaning pod/cup through the bottom needle along thebottom of the canister, and around the piercing pins at the top andbottom of the canister. The opening/hole created in the bottom of thecleaning pod/cup also helps release/remove all of the fluid contents ofthe cleaning pod/cup during the cleaning step. This bottom opening/holewill help prevent a user from spilling any leftover hot liquid from thecleaning pod/cup during removal of the cleaning pod/cup. As done withexisting beverage pods after use, the cleaning pod/cup is simplydiscarded after use. It may be preferred, although not necessary, toprocess water through the machine with no pod in place to flush out anyremaining cleaning residue from the machine before making a beverage.

An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a cleaning pod/cupwithout any pre-existing apertures in the side of the device which areexposed by removing a removable tape/wrapping/or the like. The cleaningsubstance (fluid/gel/powder/tablet) and a flow restrictor/diverter arecontained in the cleaning pod/cup. For such an embodiment, the inventionfurther includes a separate handheld puncturing/perforating device thatthe cleaning pod/cup is placed into prior to use to create apertures inthe side of the cleaning pod/cup. The handheld perforating deviceincludes needles, pins, and/or protrusions, to pierce the side of thecleaning pod/cup when inserted into the handheld perforating device.After the cleaning pod/cup is perforated, the cleaning pod/cup pod isthen placed into the machine as before and the machine is turned on.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cleaning pod/cup is madein a manner that it is refillable and reusable. In such an embodiment,the cleaning pod/cup is preferably made out of a harder and more durablematerial capable of handling repeated use, e.g., a hard plasticmaterial. For such an embodiment of the invention, the device containsan opening/aperture in the bottom so that the bottom puncture needle inthe machine can pass through the bottom of the cleaning pod/cup when thedevice is placed inside the canister in the machine. This assures thatthe puncturing needle will be cleaned. An alignment arrow or otherpositioning demarcation on the top of the cleaning pod/cup can be usedto help align the cleaning pod/cup in the canister with the piercing pinat the bottom of the canister aligned with the opening/aperture in thebottom of the cleaning pod/cup. Alternative alignment devices andmethods are also possible including ridges or tabs that fit in recessesin the canister. The embodiment of the invention that is refillable andreusable preferably includes a liftable and/or removable and replaceabletop containing an opening/aperture through which the top piercing needlein the machine can pass. The top may be hinged and liftable or the topmay be completely removable, such as, for example, a screw-top. Forsubsequent uses, the pod/cup may be refilled with the cleaningsolution/tablet/gel/powder and then placed back into the machine asbefore.

The present invention not only offers a convenient way to clean acommonly used household and office single serve “coffee” machine, but italso improves the quality and flavor of the beverages made using themachine.

Another advantage to the cup according to the present invention asdescribed above is the added openings/apertures in the cup prevent overpressurization of the cup. Having the apertures in the side allows foreasier drainage of the liquid over only one exit out of the bottomneedle. Accordingly, even if the bottom needle becomes clogged (onepossible cause for excessive pressure and busting) the liquid will stilldrain out of the cup and into the canister out its bottom. The sideapertures may be located near the top of the cup as for the cleaning cupdescribed above, or, for a beverage cup containing a filter (e.g.,coffee), the apertures may be located closer to the bottom of thepod/cup. For the invention for beverages, the apertures on the side ofthe cup can be located anywhere beneath the connection between thefilter and the cup so that the apertures do not allow grinds to exit thecup. With additional exit paths for fluid, besides the one bottomneedle, the risk of the pod/cup exploding is minimized due to theability to avoid excessive pressure.

As for a cleaning cup according to the invention, the apertures for abeverage cup can be a variety of sizes or shapes and in a range ofpatterns. An adhesive strip, if used, is removed when the pod is readyfor use—prior to installation in the canister.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a modified canister,portion pack, or cup holder containing more than one puncture needle atthe bottom of the canister. When the pod/cup is inserted into thecanister and the machine is closed, the bottom of the pod/cup ispunctured by each of the needles in the bottom of the canister creatinggreater fluid exit area for the fluid as compared to just one needle asin existing machines. The bottom needles may all be the same heightinside the canister or, more preferably, the needle heights may differto make the puncturing process easier (require less force than if allwere the same height and/or puncturing at the same time).

As for the cleaning cup, the separate handheld puncturing/perforatingdevice can be used for a beverage cup. The pod/cup is placed intohandheld puncturing/perforating device prior to use in the machine tocreate the plurality of apertures in the bottom. The handheldperforating device includes needles, pins, and/or protrusions, topuncture the bottom and/or the side of the pod/cup when inserted intothe handheld perforating device. After the pod/cup is perforated, thepod/cup pod is then placed into the machine as before and the machine isturned on.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is useful to avoid a burstingbeverage cup. Such an embodiment includes one or more seals, sectionsand/or panels on the pod/cup that open(s) when the pod/cup ispressurized (e.g., during the brewing cycle). When the pod/cup isinserted into the brewing machine and pressure increases inside the cupdue to added water, the pressure causes a break in perforations orthinned material on the pod/cup or tape over apertures which createspathway(s) for the fluid to exit the pod/cup under the internal podfilter. Preferably, the pressure-sensitive seal(s) and/or section(s) ofthe pod/cup is/are designed to open at a minimum pressure, mostpreferably a pressure that occurs during a normal brewing cycle for themachine to ensure that elevated pressures, and busting, do not occur.For example, the pressure-sensitive seal(s) and/or section(s) of thepod/cup could be designed to open at the upper range of the normalpressure of the brewing cycle which is typically in the range of 1 to 3bars according to most single cup brewing machines.

These embodiments of the invention include the pod/cup configurationswith apertures around the side of the pod/cup and a seal tape around theside over the apertures. The seal tape could be removable and/or couldbe designed to stay on the cup during brewing but made to break at thelocation(s) of the apertures in the pod/cup where the tape covers theapertures when the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, e.g.,about 3 bars. Alternatively, the breakage pressure could be lower suchthat it occurs during the normal brewing cycle, such as, for example, atabout 2 bars, and most preferably about 1 bar.

Most preferably for the beverage pod, the pressure-sensitive seal(s)and/or section(s) is/are located on the bottom of the pod/cup for a morepreferred flow of fluid down and out of the canister. Accordingly, thepressure-sensitive seal(s) and/or section(s) may be a thinned line orlines of the plastic pod/cup created in the pod/cup during manufacture,using, for example, a press or stamp to perforate or weaken the bottomof the pod/cup in such a fashion that the pressure inside the pod/cupduring the brewing cycle forces the pressure-sensitive seal(s) and/orsection(s) area(s) to open. The pressure-sensitive seal(s) and/orsection(s) of the cup may also be manufactured out of a thinner materialthan the rest of the pod/cup which may be accomplished by a modificationof existing molds for the plastic pods/cups. The pressure-sensitiveseal(s) and/or section(s) of the pod/cup may be any shape orconfiguration, such as, for example, a line or a plurality of lines,crossed lines, semi-circles and circles, star burst patterns, etc.

Most preferably, the pressure-sensitive seal(s) and/or section(s) of thepod/cup is/are perforated, stamped, or manufactured such that uponopening no plastic material breaks off of the pod/cup. No plastic shouldseparate from the pod/cup and enter the beverage during brewing.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the resulting opening(s)in the pod/cup function as an exit pathway/openings/hole for the fluidto pass through. In some cases, e.g., a clogged exit pin, the pathwayout the pressure-sensitive seal(s) and/or section(s) may be the soleexit pathway for fluid out of the pod/cup (depending on the machine andcanister design).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the general description of the invention given above andthe detailed description of an embodiment given below, serve to explainthe principles of the present invention. Similar components of thedevices are similarly numbered for simplicity.

FIGS. 1-14 show one embodiment of a pod according to the invention.FIGS. 1-7 show the pod in several views with a removable tape over aplurality of apertures in the side of the pod and FIGS. 8-14 show thesame views without the removable tape. FIGS. 1 and 8 are frontperspective views. FIGS. 2 and 9 are right side views. FIGS. 3 and 10are left side views. FIGS. 4 and 11 are front views. FIGS. 5 and 12 areback views. FIGS. 6 and 13 are top views and FIGS. 7 and 14 are bottomviews.

FIGS. 15-30 show another embodiment of a pod according to the inventionwith the apertures in the side of the pod located near the bottom of thedevice. FIGS. 15-21 show the pod in several views with a removable tapeover a plurality of apertures in the side of the pod and FIGS. 22-28show the same views without the removable tape. FIGS. 15 and 22 arefront perspective views. FIGS. 16 and 23 are right side views. FIGS. 17and 24 are left side views. FIGS. 18 and 25 are front views. FIGS. 19and 26 are back views. FIGS. 20 and 27 are top views and FIGS. 21 and 28are bottom views.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show alternative embodiments for the pod with perforatedbottoms.

FIGS. 31 through 35 show a modified canister for a single beveragebrewing machine according to the invention with a plurality ofcannulized piercing pins in the bottom of the canister in several viewsincluding a perspective view on the canister in an upside down position(FIG. 31), a top view with the canister right side up (FIG. 32), a topview of the canister with a pod inserted into the canister (FIG. 33) anda cross section view taken down the middle of the canister with cupshown in FIG. 33 along section line 28-28 (FIG. 34). The embodiment inFIGS. 31-34 include two piercing pins in the bottom of the canister. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 35, the modified canister includes fourpiercing pins in the bottom. The modified canister according to theinvention can be removable from the brewing machine.

FIGS. 36 through 38 show a cross-sectional view of handheld podpuncturing/perforating device according to the invention in a mug-typeconfiguration. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 36 through 38 showalternative configurations for the bottom of the puncturing/perforatingdevice including a plurality of piercing pins (FIGS. 36 and 37) and acombination of a piercing pin and cutting bladed (FIG. 38). FIGS. 36 and37 also show a pod according to the invention shown above thepuncturing/perforating device prior to insertion and positioned insidethe puncturing/perforating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is being made in detail to presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention. Selective embodiments are provided by way of explanationof the invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact,those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading thepresent specification and viewing the present drawings that variousmodifications and variations can be made.

FIGS. 1-30 show multiple embodiments of the improved pod according tothe present invention which can be used for cleaning and/or for helpingto avoid over pressurization and the consequences thereof.

FIGS. 1-14 show one embodiment of the pod 150 according to theinvention. The pod 150 contains a plurality of apertures 135 in the sideof the pod which may be covered with removable tape 120 or wrappingaround in order to prevent the components inside (e.g., cleaningsolution/tablet/gel/powder/granules) from spilling out prior to use. Theremovable tape 120 preferably includes a pull-tab 122 for easy removalof the tape 120. The user removes the tape 120 using the pull-tab 122 inorder to expose the apertures 135 prior to use in the brewing machine.The plurality of apertures 135 on the pod 150 may be circular shaped asshown in FIGS. 8-12 or they can be another shape or configuration, suchas, for example, triangles, stars, T-shaped, plus sign shaped, etc.Circular shaped apertures 135 are preferably about ⅛ inch in diameter insize but are not limited to that single size. The shape and location ofthe apertures 135 on the pod 150 can vary to optimize spray and/or flowto the inside wall of the canister, particularly for a cleaning pod.Apertures 135 may be cross-shaped or t-shaped, or they may be starshaped, square-shaped, sickle-shaped, or triangular. Further, while theembodiments in the Figures show all of the apertures 135 at the sameheight above the bottom of the pod 150, it is not necessary for all ofthe apertures 135 to be at the same height. A greater degree of cleaningmay be possible with apertures 135 at alternating heights.

For the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-14, the pluralityof apertures 135 are located near the top portion of the cleaningpod/cup in order to direct the flow of cleaning fluid onto the insidesof the canister starting at a height close to the top of the canister.Preferably, the plurality of apertures are located in the top ⅓ of thepod 150. For a standard pod/cup having a height of about 2-inches, it ismore preferred that the plurality of apertures 135 are located about½-inch to ¾-inch down from the top.

For the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 15-28 which is moreapplicable for use as a beverage pod rather than a cleaning pod, butstill having the added function of helping to avoid over pressurization,the plurality of apertures are located closer to the bottom of the pod150. Preferably, the plurality of apertures are located in the bottom ⅓of the pod 150. For a standard pod/cup having a height of about2-inches, it is more preferred that the plurality of apertures 135 arelocated about ½-inch to ¾-inch up from the bottom of the pod.

It is understood that both embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS.1-14 and FIGS. 15-28 are able to reduce the possibility of overpressurization of the pod 150 during the brewing or cleaning process dueto the pod's increased exit flow area.

Both embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-14 and FIGS. 15-28include ten evenly spaces apertures 135 around the perimeter of the pod150 at a uniform height. Other aperture configurations including asmaller or greater number of apertures are included in the scope of theinvention. The spacing between apertures 135 may also be varied and/ornon-uniform in order to optimize flow rates and surface contact area forthe cleaning fluid.

The pod 150 according to the invention may be made out of a thin plasticmaterial, preferably a bio-degradable material, with a top foil or coverthat can be pierced with the pins/needles in the machine (not shown).The top foil 145 is securely fastened to the top of the pod 150 by aheat-seal or glue creating a water tight seal. The top foil 145 shouldbe securely fastened to the top of the pod 150 so the cleansing agent(s)or beverage substance inside will not spill or spoil during storage. Itis also preferred to have a strong seal on the top foil 145 for mixingand in order to maintain the flow of the fluid through the pod andeither out the apertures 135 or out through the bottom of the cup ratherthan out the top of the pod.

In order to use the pod, the foil/tape 120 or wrapping is removed fromthe perimeter by either peeling it back or by using the pull-tab 122 toremove the entirety of the foil/tape 120. The pod 150 is then placedinto the canister of the brewing machine (not shown) in the same manneras a beverage pod. Upon closing the machine, the needles in the upperand lower portions of the machine pierce a hole in the top and thebottom of the cleaning pod/cup 150. The pierced hole (not shown) in thebottom of the cleaning pod/cup 150 enables not only for the flow of thecleaning liquid out through that opening through the cannulized piercingpin contained in the hole, but it also enables for the release of anylingering fluid or cleaning solution inside the pod/cup when removingthe pod from the canister prior to discarding it. Upon activating of thebrewing process hot water flows through the upper piercing pin in themachine which penetrates into the internal compartment in the podthrough the top foil. The hot water mixes with the substance in the pod(either a cleaning substance or beverage substance) and the resultingliquid fills the pod and flows out of the pod through the bottompiercing pin in the canister as well as through the apertures 135 in theside of the pod 150.

For a pod according to the invention intended for use as a cleaning pod,while it may be preferred to use a pod that is about the same height asthe existing beverage pods in order for the cleaning solution to contactthe piercing needles inside the machine, the cleaning pod/cup 150 couldalso be shorter in height and/or more narrowly shaped to increasecleaning of the needles and inside walls of the canister.

Another feature of Applicants' improved pod that can be included is apressure relief, such as, for example, a weakened part of the plasticpod and/or a blow out panel. FIGS. 29 and 30 show example ways toachieve this feature using perforations 138 in the bottom of the pod.The weakened plastic is designed to break at a minimum preset pressureinside the pod, e.g., the maximum normal operating pressure for thebrewing machine. When the pressure in the pod exceed the predeterminedpressure (e.g., 3 bars), the plastic breaks at the perforations 138releasing the pressure inside the pod allowing fluid to safely drain outof the bottom of the pod instead of exploding out of the top of themachine. The pressure relief perforations 138 can be configured in theshape of a small plus sign in an area of the bottom of the pod as shownin FIG. 30 or there could be multiple perforations along the bottom ofthe bottom of the pod as shown in FIG. 29. Other perforationconfigurations and alternative locations, e.g., the side of the pod, arealso included in the scope of the invention.

Other ways to increase the exit flow area of the pods and thus reducethe chance for over pressurization of the pod during use and a resultingexplosion is to increase the exit flow area for fluid out of the pod.Applicants' modified canister configurations accomplish that. FIGS. 31through 35 show a modified canister 401 for a single beverage brewingmachine according to the invention with a plurality of cannulizedpiercing pins at the bottom of the canister. FIGS. 31-34 show anembodiment with a pair of piercing pins 410 in a perspective view withthe canister 401 shown in an upside down position (FIG. 31), a top viewwith the canister 401 right side up (FIG. 32), a top view of thecanister 401 with a pod 450 inserted into the canister 401 (FIG. 33),and a cross section view taken down the middle of the canister 401 withpod 450 shown in FIG. 33 along section line 28-28 (FIG. 34). When thepod 450 is forced down onto the piercing pins 410 the bottom of theplastic pod is punctured and the piercing pins push throughapertures/openings created in the bottom of the pod 450. As shown inFIG. 34, the piercing pins 410 are positioned off center such that theydo no puncture the pod's internal filter 455. Most current beverage podsinclude the cone-like filter configuration shown in FIG. 34 which allowsfor the use of the pods in the canister irrespective of the rotationalposition of the pod—there is a space S between the inside side wall ofthe pod 450 and the outside surface of the pod internal filter 455 nearthe bottom of the pod and filter. Applicants have discovered thatincreasing the number of piercing pins 410 to more than one, preferablytwo, most preferably four (as shown in FIG. 35) helps avoid overpressurization downstream of the filter, including the instance of anunexpected clogged piercing pin 410.

For the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 31-35, when theimproved canister 401 is used in a single cup brewing machine a toppiercing needle (not shown) punctures the top of the pod 450 creating apath for pressurized hot water into the pod 450. The water mixes withthe beverage powder or granules (not shown) located inside the pod 450on the upstream side of the filer 455 (designated as 465 in FIG. 34).The fluid is pushed through the filter 455 into the cavity 475 insidethe pod 450 downstream of the filter 455 where the fluid accumulates andis pushed (and/or drips) out of the pod 450 through the piercing pins410. In some instances when the puncture holes in the bottom of the pod450 are not liquid tight, the liquid will flow out the puncture holesaround the outside of the piercing needle(s) 410 in which case theliquid exits the canister through any one or more of the secondaryapertures 495 in the bottom of the canister 401.

As for most existing canisters in single cup brewing machines, themodified canister according to the present invention can be removablefrom the brewing machine. Applicants' modified and improved canister canbe used with existing pod designs as well as the improved pod designsdescribed above.

Yet another device that can be used separately with existing pod designsand/or in conjunction with either or both of the modified pods andcanisters herein described is a handheld pod puncturing/perforatingdevice. The handheld pod puncturing/perforating device according to thepresent invention provides another way to increase the exit flow are forpods. Example embodiments in a mug-type configuration are shown in FIGS.36-38. FIGS. 36 through 38 show a cross-sectional view of handheld podpuncturing/perforating device 530 in a mug-type configuration having ahandle 515. FIGS. 36 and 37 show a configuration having a plurality ofpiercing pins 490 (which can be but need not be cannulized) and FIG. 38shows a configuration with a combination of a piercing pin 490 andcutting blades 535. FIGS. 36 and 37 show a pod 450 according to thepresent invention positioned above the puncturing/perforating device 530prior to insertion and positioned inside the puncturing/perforatingdevice 530 with the piercing pins 490 through the bottom of the pod 450.While the embodiments shown in FIGS. 36-38 shown piercing pins 490having the same height, it is more preferable to have different heightsfor each piercing pin 490 for a smaller required force to push the pod450 down in the puncturing/perforating device 530.

As shown in FIG. 37, the removable tape on the pod can be left in placeprior to use of the puncturing/perforating device 530. Alternatively,the removable tape on the pod can be removed prior to use of thepuncturing/perforating device 530.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is a reusable pod comprising theapertures in the side, either near the top of the device or near thebottom as described in previous embodiments. A reusable pod according tothe invention includes a removable and replaceable lid (e.g, screwedfitting or snap on) or a lid that is hinged allowing the lid to beopened and closed. The reusable pod can be used for cleaning thecanister and/or for beverages. Depending on the desired use, thereusable pod is filled with the desired cleaningsolution/tablet/gel/powder compound or beverage granules, etc., and thelid is put into place. The lid according to this embodiment ispreferably made out of a durable material (e.g., hard plastic) that canwithstand washing. Each of the lid and the bottom of the reusable podaccording to this embodiment of the invention comprises at least oneaperture or indentation configured to receive the top piercing pin inthe machine and the bottom piercing pin in the canister. For thoseembodiments of the invention with a plurality of piercing pins in thecanister the bottom of the reusable pod according to the invention isconfigured with a larger indention/aperture or with a plurality ofindentations/apertures to receive the piercing pins. The upper piercingpin in the machine which supplies the incoming hot water passes throughthe aperture in the top of the reusable pod or is received in anaperture that includes a pathway for the incoming water to travel insidethe reusable pod.

In one embodiment intended for use with beverages, the reusable podfurther comprises a filter internal to the pod to keep grinds and thelike from exiting the pod with the beverage. Alternatively, the reusablepods side apertures could be made with a fine mesh in the openings.Still further the reusable pods could include additional fine meshopenings in the side and/or bottom of the reusable pod through which thebeverage passes.

A flow restrictor, not shown in the figures, can also be included in thepod device according to the invention. The flow restrictor can be aporous or non-porous material inside the pod at the bottom. The flowrestrictor functions to increase the flow out of the side apertures andlessen the flow out of the piercing pin(s) in the bottom of the canisterand/or openings in the bottom of the pod. Accordingly, the use of a flowrestrictor is more probable when the device is used for cleaning as itis more desirable to have cleaning solution exiting the side of the pod.Flow restrictors with varying porosity can be used for varying flowrates out the bottom of the pod which may be desirable depending on thematerial (e.g., the type of cleaning solution or tables or pellets,etc.) used. A water filter mesh or fabric, such as for ponds, could beused as a flow restrictor.

On one embodiment of the invention with the side apertures in the podlocated near the top, an internal filter positioned lower than theapertures inside the pod can function as both filter and an flowrestrictor.

We claim:
 1. A pod for a brewing machine comprising a plastic cup shapedhousing having a bottom, a cylindrically shaped side wall having aninside surface and an outside surface, said side wall connected to thebottom and extending upward away from the bottom, said bottom and saidside wall forming an internal compartment with an interior surface onsaid bottom, said top of said side wall forming a circular rim andhaving a flat lip; said side wall comprising a plurality of aperturesthrough the wall, said apertures positioned circumferentially aroundsaid wall along the top half of said wall; a foil cover sealed on thetop of said side wall forming a watertight seal on the top of said pod;said bottom comprising indentations configured to break when a pressureinside said pod exceeds a predetermined amount.
 2. The pod according toclaim 1, wherein said apertures are circular in shape.
 3. The podaccording to claim 2, wherein said apertures are about ⅛ inch indiameter.
 4. The pod according to claim 1, comprising at least tenapertures in said side wall.
 5. The pod according to claim 4, whereinsaid ten apertures are positioned along at least two different heightsup from said bottom from said pod.
 6. The pod according to claim 1,wherein said plurality of apertures are located at a distance up fromsaid bottom of said pod of about two thirds of the total height of saidpod.
 7. The pod according to claim 1, wherein said indentations areconfigured to break at 3 bars.
 8. The pod according to claim 1,comprising at least one pair of crossing indentations.
 9. The podaccording to claim 1, further comprising a flow restrictor inside saidpod on top of said bottom.
 10. The pod according to claim 1, furthercomprising a removable tape over said plurality of apertures sealingsaid pod at said plurality of apertures until said tape is removed. 11.The pod according to claim 10, further comprising a cleaning substanceinside said internal compartment for cleaning a brewing machine whensaid pod is inserted into said machine and hot water is forced throughsaid pod.
 12. A pod for a brewing machine comprising a plastic cupshaped housing having a bottom, a cylindrically shaped side wall havingan inside surface and an outside surface, said side wall connected tothe bottom and extending upward away from the bottom, said bottom andsaid side wall forming an internal compartment with an interior surfaceon said bottom, said top of said side wall forming a circular rim andhaving a flat lip; said side wall comprising a plurality of circularapertures through the wall, said apertures positioned circumferentiallyaround said wall along the bottom half of said wall; said side wallcomprising a foil cover sealed on the top of said side wall forming awatertight seal on the top of said pod; said exterior of said podcomprising removable tape over said plurality of apertures sealing saidpod at said plurality of apertures; said bottom comprising indentationsconfigured to break when a pressure inside said pod exceeds apredetermined amount.
 13. The pod according to claim 12, wherein saidapertures are about ⅛ inch in diameter.
 14. The pod according to claim12, comprising at least ten apertures in said side wall.
 15. The podaccording to claim 14, wherein said ten apertures are positioned alongat least two different heights up from said bottom of said pod.
 16. Thepod according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of apertures arelocated at a distance up from said bottom of said pod of about one thirdof the total height of said pod.
 17. The pod according to claim 12,wherein said indentations are configured to break at 3 bars.
 18. The podaccording to claim 12, comprising at least one pair of crossingindentations.